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POTASSIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE INTRAVENOUS INFUSION

Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet?

This leaflet answers some common questions about the Baxter Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride Intravenous Infusion [Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride IV Infusion]. It does not contain all of the available information. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using Baxter Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride IV Infusion against the benefit they expect it will have for you. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

This medicine is likely to be used while you are at a clinic or in hospital, and will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward.

If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

What Baxter Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride IV Infusion is used for?

A combination of potassium chloride and sodium chloride salts in an infusion is intended for maintenance and replacement of body fluid. It can be used alone or in combination with an injectable nutrient supplement in patients who are unable to take fluids and nutrients by mouth. An optimum level of salts in circulation, such as potassium and sodium, etc, is essential for life and good health. Disorder of potassium level in the circulation may affect transmission of nerve impulses in various organs such as heart, muscle and gastrointestinal muscles. Thus, the Sodium Chloride and Potassium Chloride IV Infusion is used for replenishing fluid in the treatment of patients who need restoring and maintaining of fluid and salt in the system.

Before you are given the Baxter Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride IV Infusion

The Baxter Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride IV Infusion should not be given to you if you have:

documented hyperkalaemia, hyperchloremia or hypernatremia.

potassium retention or high potassium levels in the blood

heart disease

kidney problems

increased acidity in the blood

haemolysis

adrenal gland problems (eg. Addison’s disease)

You must tell your doctor if you:

have ischaemic heart disease.

are an alcoholic

have any other illness

are taking any prescription medicine, in particular corticosteroids (such as, prednisone and prednisolone) or even non-prescription medicines.

How much it is given:

Your doctor will decide how much Baxter Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride IV infusion will be given to you, which depends on your need and condition. The medicine is a dripped injection; therefore it should be given by using special equipment and attended by a health professional (doctor, trained nurse).

How it is given:

The Baxter Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride IV infusion will be given at a slow rate of injection (drip) by your health professional. Usually, you will need to stay in a health institution (hospital, nursing home, etc) but in some cases at home, as it requires a special medical equipment to deliver the medicine into your circulation. This delivery should be attended by a health professional. The needle is normally placed in a large vein either on a central or peripheral blood vessel. Your doctor knows which of your large veins to use. The minimum time for an infusion is 1 hour, whilst the maximum time over which an infusion may occur is 12 hours for the 100mL solutions, and 24 hours for the 1000mL products.

High dose or high speed infusion must be performed under continuous ECG monitoring.

Case of overdose

The doctor or nurse injecting you the Baxter Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride IV infusion has had experience in the use of this sort of medicine, so it is unlikely that you will be given an overdose. However, in case of an overdose, your health provider will take an appropriate action.

While you are having Baxter Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride IV Infusion

Discuss with your doctor the progress you have experienced after the treatment, whether any complication has occurred, especially during the first few days of therapy. Frequent clinical evaluation and laboratory tests may be required. As Baxter Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride IV Infusion is normally given in a hospital, your nurse provider will take records of the progress and unexpected reactions.

Side effects

As with any medicine, some side effects may occur. Some patients may have undesirable side effects, such as, fever response. No serious abnormality has ever been reported with the Baxter Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride IV Infusion, but there is a chance of unintentional hospital acquired infections. As with all other preparations similar to this product, inflammation of the veins on the site of injection may occur. Always tell your doctor if you have any unpleasant effects after receiving the Baxter Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride IV Infusion.

If any of the following happen, that is, swelling of the face, lips, mouth or difficulty in breathing, tell your health professionals on duty immediately. They are symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, known as ”anaphylactic shock” in medical terminology. Then, he/she will take an appropriate action promptly, such as to abort the injection.

Product Description

It is a clear colourless solution of potassium chloride and sodium chloride filled in Viaflex plastic bags. It is a sterile solution and intended for intravenous slow injection. They are well-tolerated solution indicated in the treatment of patients who are unable to take fluids and nutrients by mouth.

What is in Baxter Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride IV Infusion?

The active components of Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride IV Infusions are potassium chloride and sodium chloride. It is formulated in water for injection. Their amounts dissolved in 1000 mL of water for injection are shown in Table 1. These products do not contain additives. Potassium chloride and sodium chloride are highly purified salts.

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